Customer Reviews

The Business of Gift Baskets : A Guide for Survival

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Her tone seemed condescending at times, and the book barely touched upon set up legalities, design, and customer retention.

The message was lost in how the information was delivered in my opinion. It seems like the goodies were sprinkled between infomericals for her gift basket affiliate business.

I found Shirley Frasier's 'How to start a home based gift basket business' (3rd ed.) a much better resource.

For a while, I had been meaning to learn how to make baskets for family and friends on special occasions. When I saw this book, I thought it would help me, so on the next special occasion a family member had, I put my knowlegde to use. It was a hit! People even thought I bought the gift basket! Everyone was asking me how I came up with the ideas, where I bought the items, etc. I couldn't be more happy that I bought this book!

To be honest I was disappointed in this book...I was looking for a book that would tell me how to create a gift basket instead I found a book that told mostly about marketing and general principals for running a business.

It didn't even give the formula for how to price a basket, and very few resources were listed. I found How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business, 2nd by Shirley George Frazier to be much more instructional and step-by-step.

How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business, 2nd

There are many books on gift baskets, how to design them, market them, etc., but I thought McKay's book was interesting and insightful certainly from a customer service point of view. Her main emphasis IS customer service, but that's what keeps her clients coming back for more. Especially with something as personal and special as gift giving; there simply isn't anything worse than a poorly put together basket or one that arrives late or not at all. I enjoyed reading McKay's methods for handling these mishaps. If you're going into the gift basket business than it makes a lot of sense to read several different books to understand how successful gift basket business owners have succeeded in this market.

I honestly thought this would be a "Bible" given her influence in the industry. This is better suited to someone with the business already started. For a better start up guide try Shirley George Frazier. However, This book spent a considerable amount of time on customer service, appearance and marketing. Not enough of the basic how to's.

This book really helped me understand the business end of gift baskets. I have made baskets for my friends and family and wanted it to become more. Cynthia McKay has a way of making learning fun. I hope she has more books available!